- Full stop
A semicolon can generally be replaced by a full stop.
The Governing Council agreed to the measure. The Student Council rejected it.
However, the semicolon suggests that the two shorter sentences are more closely related than two consecutive sentences usually are. - A connecting word
A semicolon can also be replaced by a suitable connecting word (and, or, but, while, yet) with a joining comma.The Governing Council agreed to the measure, yet the Student Council rejected it.
However, certain connecting words must be preceded by a semicolon or full stop. The most common are consequently, hence, however, meanwhile, nevertheless, therefore and thus.The two sides have refused to negotiate; consequently, the measure has been suspended.
Recommended citation:
«Alternatives to the semicolon» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=2299> [consulta: 3 desembre 2024].